Raglan Sleeve
Construction — one of 70 in the glossary
A sleeve cut in one piece with the shoulder, joined by a diagonal seam that runs from the underarm to the neckline rather than around the shoulder. It gives more freedom of movement than a set-in sleeve, which is why it is standard on baseball tees and athletic wear, and it is often cut in a contrast colour. For a decorator the diagonal seam means the usable flat print area is narrower across the chest, and a full-width design will run into a seam sooner than on a set-in style.
One piece with the shoulder
A set-in sleeve is joined by a seam running around the shoulder, roughly where the bone ends. A raglan sleeve is cut as one piece with the shoulder and joined by a diagonal seam running from the underarm up to the neckline.
Removing the shoulder seam removes the main constraint on the arm, which is why raglans are standard on baseball tees, athletic wear and anything meant to be thrown around in.
It also changes the silhouette. The shoulder line is softer and less structured, so a raglan reads as more casual than the same garment with a set-in sleeve.
What it does to your print area
The diagonal seam cuts across the top corners of the chest, so the usable flat area is narrower at the top than on a set-in sleeve of the same size. A wide design that fits a crew neck can run into the seam on a raglan.
Contrast raglans — a white body with coloured sleeves — put a colour break right where a large front print would sit. Artwork that crosses that break rarely survives contact with it.
Measure the flat area on a sample rather than working from the shirt's nominal size. Two raglans in the same size can differ by an inch across the top depending on how steep the seam is cut.
Common questions
- What is a raglan sleeve?
- A sleeve cut in one piece with the shoulder and joined by a diagonal seam running from the underarm to the neckline, instead of a seam around the shoulder. It gives more shoulder movement and a softer silhouette.
- What is a raglan t-shirt?
- Usually a baseball tee: a raglan-sleeved shirt with three-quarter or short sleeves in a contrasting colour to the body. The cut and the colour break are what make it read as sporting.
- Is a raglan better than a set-in sleeve?
- For movement and comfort, yes. For a structured shoulder line and a clean rectangular print area, the set-in sleeve wins. It is a choice about the job, not about quality.
- Can you print a large design on a raglan?
- Within limits. The diagonal seam narrows the flat area at the top of the chest, and a contrast sleeve puts a colour break where a wide design would cross. Measure a sample before approving the artwork.
See also
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